XN000022-1978-05-26 — Page 6

FRIDAY, MAY 26, 1978

RESULTS OF TENDER FOR 300 URBAN TAXI LICENCES

****

THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT HAS COMPLETED PROCESSING THE LATEST TENDER FOR 300 HONG KONG AND KOWLOON TAXI LICENCES.

A TOTAL OF 3,893 INDIVIDUAL TENDERS HAD BEEN RECEIVED WHEN THE OFFER CLOSED ON APRIL 20.

THE HIGHEST TENDER WAS $212,860 AND THE LOWEST $2,500.

A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THAT 299 OF THE 300 URBAN TAXI LICENCES WILL BE ALLOCATED TO TENDERERS OFFERING A UNIT PREMIUM OF $206,610 AND ABOVE.

THE REMAINING TAXI LICENCE WAS DETERMINED BY A PUBLIC BALLOT EARLIER THIS MONTH BECAUSE THERE WERE THREE TENDERS EACH WITH AN IDENTICAL UNIT PREMIUM OF $206,510 SEEKING A TOTAL OF FOUR TAXI LICENCES.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID TENDERERS WHO OFFERED A UNIT PREMIUM OF UNDER $206,510 WERE UNSUCCESSFUL BUT THEY COULD TRY AGAIN WHEN URBAN TAXI LICENCES WERE NEXT OFFERED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT.

OVER 170 FIREMEN PROMOTED OR GIVEN ACTING APPOINTMENTS

*****

THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT TODAY ANNOUNCED THE PROMOTIONS AND ACTING APPOINTMENTS OF OVER 170 RANK AND FILE OFFICERS TO FILL THE EXISTING VACANCIES IN THE DEPARTMENT.

OF THESE, SEVEN WERE PROMOTED TO PRINCIPAL FIREMEN AND 38 TO SENIOR FIREMEN, ANOTHER 60 WERE MADE ACTING SENIOR FIREMEN AND 68 AS ACTING PRINCIPAL FIREMEN.

THEY RECEIVED THEIR LETTERS OF APPOINTMENT FROM THEIR RESPECTIVE CHIEF FIRE OFFICERS THIS (FRIDAY) MORNING,

COMMENTING ON THE ANNOUNCEMENT, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE FIRE SERVICES SAID THAT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT SUCH A LARGE GROUP OF OFFICERS IN THE DEPARTMENT GOT PROMOTED AND GIVEN ACTING APPOINTMENTS AT ONE TIME.

+IN FACT, THIS HAS RESULTED FROM A TRIAL SCHEME WHEREBY EXPERIENCED PRINCIPAL FIREMEN REPLACE STATION OFFICERS AS THE OFFICER IN CHARGE OF CERTAIN MAJOR FIRE APPLIANCES, INCLUDING SNORKEL, EMERGENCY TENDER AND EXTRA HEAVY PUMP, SO AS TO IMPROVE THE COMMAND STRUCTURE AND TO PROVIDE BETTER PROMOTION IN THE FIREMEN'S GRADE, HE SAID.

THE SCHEME HAS BEEN IN FORCE SINCE 1975 AND PROVED SUCCESSFUL IN RESPECT OF OPERATIONAL DUTIES AND FROM THE ACTUAL COMPETENCE AND SUPERVISORY POINTS OF VIEW.

+ITH THE EXPANSION OF THE SERVICE TO MEET INCREASING PUBLIC DEMAND, PROMOTION PROSPECTS IN THE DEPARTMENT ARE EXCELLENT,+ THE SPOKESMAN ́ADDED.